Folding window-balcony.



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2 SHEETS-SHEET 1I Patented Apr. 6, 1915.

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FOLDING WINDOW BALCONY.

APPLICATION FILED APR. I5, 1913.

1,134,635, Patented Apr. 6, 1915.A

2 SHEETS-SHEET z.

ANDREW T. OSBRON, OF KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI.'

FOLDING WINDOW-BALCONY.

incassa Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. e, 1915i.

Application led April 15, 1913. Serial No. 761,155.

To all whom it' may concern.'

Be it known that I, ANDREW T., OsBRoN, a citizen of the United States,residing at Kansas City, in the county of Jackson and State of Missouri,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in FoldingWvindow-Balconies, of which the following is a specification. f

This invention has relation to a folding window balcony, one of theAobjects being the construction of a folding balcony frame which may besupported permanently outside a window and partly upon the window ledge,in either folded or unfolded condition.

A. further object is to produce an article of this character which maybe conveniently manipulated from the window opening, and which will notconceal the window or shut off the view therefrom when the device isfolded or not in use.

Another object is the production of a folding balcony which will besimple, strong, and inexpensive in construction and which may be easilyapplied to or removed from the position where it is to be used.

A still further object is to provide -a construction which will becertain in its operation, and which will be automatically locked whendrawn into its position for use.

The invention also contemplates the provision of additional lockingmeans to insure safety while the device is in use, as well as theequipment of the same with means for screening its interior from thewind or rain as well as from the view of outsiders.

With these objects in view the invention comprises certain novel andpeculiar features of construction as hereinafter described and claimedand in order that thel same may be fully understood, reference is to behad to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1, is a perspectiveview of the cot frame and operating means shown attached to a buildingadjacent a window and in unfolded condition or position for use; Fig. 2,is a vertical section through the device showing the same supporting acot mattress and springs. Fig. 3,y is a similar view, omitting themattress and springs and showing the balcony collapsed. Fig. 4, is aperspective view,` partly broken away, of the device inclosed by itscanvas coverings or canopy; Fig. 5, is a perspective view of one of thesafety bolt brackets.

ReferringV to the drawingsfthe balcony I y frame is made up ofa numberof pipe sections of suitable-diameter and joined together by Ts andvelbows as shown, the

eol i same comprising three longitudinal or side bars 2,4, and 6, thebars 2, and 4 being joined by a series of cross bars 8, and the bars 4andv6 by similar cross bars 9. The longitudinal bar 2, rests partly uponthe window ledge 10, of the building and forms the pivot about which thebalcony frame swings when being folded or unfolded. The ends of the bar2 rest at the lower ends of guideways formed between two upright rods 12and 14,l which fare firmly secured by stay bolts 15 embedded inthe wallof the buildingfhaving their heads 16 countersunk on the inside of thewall and nuts 17 being provided on the outside for removably securingthe rods 12and 14 in place. The guideways are formed vby osetting eachrod 12 between its ends from the adjacent rod 14.

At the ends of the bars 2 and 4 are upright elbow extensions 18connected by cross bars 20, additional vertical bars 22 and inclinedbars'24 joining the elbow extensions 18 with vthe longitudinal bar 6 inthe vertical planes lof the bars 20, the bars 20 and 24 serving as endbars to hold the mattress 25, springs 27 and bedding, when supported 34pivoted at the ends of the rods 28 adja.

cent the rods 26 said rods 34 and 26 also being held positioned upon therod 28 by means of cotters32. The struts 34 have each a slight bend asshown, and are forked at their lower ends to engage the extensions 18 atthe ends of bar 2, in order to Vsupshown in Fig. 1.. lt will be notedthat the Y front prongs of the forked ends of said rods -port the rods28 and 26 in the position matically by gravity, but the rod 28 cannotrise high enough to allow the longer front prongs of the rods 34 to passover the said extensions.

The balcony frame is lifted into its horizontal position by means ofcords 36 passing around sheaves 38 fixed to the window casing above therod 28. rlfhese cords are attached to rings 40 secured to the ends ofthe rod 6, the cords being prevented from passing entirely through thesheaves 38 by rings or loops 42 fastened to the cords.

Eachof the upright rods 14 carries near its lower end a bracket 44 ofthe form shown in Fig. 5, each of which brackets is equipped with abarrel 46 in which operates a sliding bolt 48. rlhe bolts 48 aredesigned for engagement with the holes 49 in the swinging struts 84 toretain the same in vertical position upon the extensions 18 of the rods.A tripping mechanism is also carried by the brackets 44, the sameconsisting of a rod 50 journaled in passages 52 of the brackets 44, andprovided with crank arms 54 adapted to engage and trip the struts 34 offthe extensions 18, when the bolts 8 are withdrawn. A handle 56 issecured to the rod 50 for convenience in operating the same.

1t will be observed that the side bar 2 will bear against the undersidesof the brackets 44, which will receive the upward thrust of the bar 2when the cot frame is being raised to horizontal position.

From the above description in connection with the drawing the operation,will now be clearly understood.

Assuming that the balcony fra-me is in folded position, that is,suspended and out of use as shown in Fig. 3, and it is desired to raisethe same to horizontal position, a person at the window will pull uponthe cords 36. This swings the frame about the side bar 2 as an axis, andthereby forces the rod 28 to travel on its rollers 30 along the passageor guideway formed by the rods 12 and 14. As the rod 28 reaches itshighest position, the struts 34 automatically swing inward with thefront prongs at their lower ends against the extensions 18. The pull onthe cords 36 is now relaxed to allow the struts to settle into positionwith their forked ends in locking engagement with said extensions, andto insure against accidental disengagement of the struts the bolts 48are slid through them. Whenever it is desired to lower the balcony frameagain to its first position, the bolts will be shot back and by swingingthe handle 56, the struts 34 will be tripped ofi' the extensions 18,whereupon the frame will be lowered as the cords are released.

1 prefer to use screening 58 across the spaces between the bars 4 and 6and also to bridge the triangular spaces between the bars 2O and 24 atthe ends. A covering or canopy 60 will also be formed to it the balcony,being composed of top and side curtains, made out of canvas or anysuitable awning material, to afford a shelter in bad weather, andsimilar provision will be made for a lower curtain 62 to screen thebedding from view from below. Any suitable Jfastening means, asautomobile curtain buttons 64 may be employed to hold the curtains inplace. A curtain G8 will also be provided to be located between thebalcony, when raised, and the adjacent window opening.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that 1 have produced a foldingwindow balcony embodying the features of advantage enumerated asdesirable in the statement of the object of the invention, and while theabove yrepresents one embodiment of the same, 1 do not wish to belimited to the precise construction and arrangement shown, but reservethe right to such changes and modilications as fall within the spiritand s pe of the appended claims.

0% claim- 1. The combination with a window casing, of a balcony frame,means for pivotally supporting one side of said frame at the lower edgeof said casing, a vertically adjustable bar extending horizontallyacross the window casing, connections between said bar and the otherside of said frame, means connected to said frame and adapted to raiseit from a vertically suspended position to a horizontal position wherebysaid bar is moved to elevated position, and means to hold said barelevated and maintain the frame in horizontal position.

2. The combination with a window casing, of a balcony frame, means forpivotally supporting one side of said frame at the lower edge of saidcasing, a vertically adjustable bar extending horizontally across thewindow casing, connections between said bar and the other side of saidframe, means connected to said frame and adapted to raise it from avertically suspended position to a horizontal position whereby said baris moved to elevated position, and means car- Aried by said bar tosupport said bar in its elevated position and thereby maintain the framein horizontal position.

3. The combination with a window casing, of a balcony frame, means forpivotally supporting one side of said frame at the lower edge of saidcasing, a vertically adjustable bar extending horizontally across thewindow casing, connections between said bar and the other side of saidframe, means connected to said frame and adapted to raise it from avertically suspended position to a horizontal position whereby said baris moved to elevated position, and means acting automatically to locksaid bar and support it in elevated position to maintain the frame inhorizontal position.

4. The combination with a window casing, of a balcony frame, means forpivotally supporting one side of said frame at the lower edge of saidcasing, a vertically adjustable bar extending horizontally across thewindow casing, connections between said bar and the other side of saidframe, means connected to said frame and adapted to raise it from avertically suspended position to a horizontal position whereby said baris moved. to elevated position, means carried by said bar and actingautomatically to lock said bar and support it in elevated position andthereby maintain the frame in horizontal position, and means to tripsaid last means from locking position.

5. The combination with a window casing, of spaced uprights secured ateach side of said casing and forming vertical guideways, a foldingbalcony frame having a side bar supported in the lower ends of saidguideways, a second bar provided with antifriction rollers arranged totravel along said guideways and with connections secured to the otherside bar of said frame, means connected to said frame and adapted toraise it from a vertically suspended position to a horizontal position,whereby said second bar is moved to the upper ends of said guideways,and vertically swinging struts carried by said second bar and havingforked lower ends adapted to automatically engage said rst side bar tosupport said second bar in raised position and thereby maintain the cotframe in horizontal position.

6. The combination with a window casing, of spaced uprights secured ateach side of said casing and forming vertical guideways, a foldingbalcony frame having a side bar supported in the lower ends of saidguideways, a second bar provided with antifriction rollers arranged totravel along said 'guideways vand with connections secured to theotherside bar of said frame, means connected to said frame and adaptedto raise it from a vertically suspended `po-y sition to a horizontalposition, whereby said second bar is moved tothe upper ends of saidguideways, vertically swinging strutsk carried by said second bar and.having forked lower ends adapted to automatically engage said iirst sidebar to support saidV second bar in raised position and thereby maintainthe frame in horizontal position,

and means to trip said struts from engagement with said first side bar.

7 The combination with a window casing, of spaced uprights secured ateach side of said casing and forming vertical guideways, a foldingbalcony frame having a side bar supported in the lower ends of saidguideways, a second bar arranged to travel Y along said guideways andprovidedy with connections secured to the other side of the frame, meansconnected .to said frame and adapted to raise it from verticallysuspended position to horizontal position, whereby said second bar ismoved to the upper ends ANDREW T. OSBRON. Witnesses C. F. MATHmsoN, U.S. Gr. PEABODY.

C'opies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, byaddressing the Commissioner of Patents,

, Washington, I). C.

